Our seventh grade students continue to turn up exciting specimens!  This hatchling red-bellied cooter was found by  Mrs. Thames class of Northern Middle School during an April 17 CHESPAX trip to King's Landing Park (Lower Marlboro, SE).  This little turtle may have recently emerged from hibernation as evidenced by the mud covering its plastron or top shell.in the photo below.   It is likely that this little cooter hatched late last summer or early in the fall of 2011.

Hatchling Red-bellied Cooter found by seventh grade students at King's Landing Park  (Lower Marlboro, SE)